Hillbilly Hollow

If the “Al” you mention is me, I have no idea of where Lighthouse Rock is, though Phil K. who mentioned it in a post above, obviously does.

I am amazed by the number of climbing areas in Wisconsin listed here on MP. During my years in Wisconsin ( ‘63-‘67—not long after the glaciers retreated!!!), Devil’s Lake was pretty much the only climbing area in the state or, at least the only one that saw more than a minimum of activity. We did climb at Interstate Park, but most activity there was in the Minnesota side. I remember that we visited Gibraltar once on a cold day. We knew that some routes had been climbed there, but the purpose of our visit was to practice ‘multi-pitch’ rappelling. Soon after,  we ( Wisconsin Hoofer Mountaineers) received word ( don’t recall how) that climbing was not allowed at Gibraltar. I don’t believe that there was any ‘push back’ from climbers back then. I do believe that several years later there was further climbing activity there for a while, before the closure was again imposed or enforced. We also did a little climbing in Andelman’s Gorge ( I think that was the name). Beyond that, I believe that there was very sporadic activity on some other mid-state sandstone formations (Roche a Cri?) and on some limestone in the Door Peninsula—mostly by the Racine Crag Rats. But the Lake was really The Place if you were a climber in the region at that time.

Lighthouse rock is a stones throw away from Roche A Cri state park on 10th Ave., south of Highway 21. We have reconciled with the owner who owns a deer ranch and does guided deer hunts. Brett Favre actually hunts there. Ironically, my father sold pheasants to him. The farm is called Deer Haven Acres. Rock is at the intersection near Dyke and 10th Ave. 

Andelmans Gorge I know is in Rock Springs. Also a nature area with a beautiful hike. Definitely visit the nearby artesian well for water.

Phil K, thanks for the reminder on Lighthouse rock.  I have explored it years ago, just never knew what it was called.  Looked good for climbing potential, but full of spray-paint, right off the road and not too far from house(s) that I can remember. I have a bunch of phone photos it on my old computer somehwere.

Ever climb at Lone Rock, just north through the marshes by Quincy bluff?  you can access it where Dyke & 14th make an intersection.  

I have made the hike to Quincy Bluff over the dike to check out bouldering but was not pleased with the rock quality. My girlfriend and I put up a lot of easy routes at Rattlesnake Mound when I was introducing her to climbing right before it closed to rope climbing. This year I put up “Second Chance” as my introduction back into the climbing scene.